Applications Available for Kansas Future Teacher Academy

February 25, 2013

Kansas high school students looking toward the future have the opportunity to see if they want to be among the future generation of teachers, coaches, counselors, education researchers, speech therapists – every profession that begins with a degree in education.

Applications are being accepted for the 24th annual Kansas Future Teacher Academy; the application is available at www.emporia.edu/jones/kfta/. Current high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply. Applications need to be submitted by March 15, 2013.

“We’re really excited for this year,” said Bob Aman, director of the academy. “We’ve revamped the schedule and supplemented the amount of technology the students will use during the week to truly show what it means to go to college to become an educator, tools and techniques teachers use, and explore the choices and demands they will face in their professional life.”

For five days, academy participants will work with education faculty from area school districts, ESU education faculty, and meet with new teachers, academy alumni and the 2013 National Teachers Hall of Fame inductees.

“Our goal is two-fold for the students: give them an overview of the process of becoming a teacher and at the same time provide them tools to look inside themselves to see if they have what it takes to become a teacher,” Aman said. “For the first time, we are offering students who attended the academy last year to apply to attend this year so they can provide us feedback on the new programming.” Aman explained this invitation is for academy alumni who will not have graduated high school as of May 2013.

This year the KFTA will be held June 9-13, 2013 at Emporia State University; the academy held at Dodge City Community College will also be held June 9-13, 2013. For more than a decade the academy has been held at the two locations to accommodate geographic distance.

Students interested in applying can apply for a scholarship to assist in paying the $100 fee for attending the academy.

“Since Phi Delta Kappa's mission is to support education, it is an honor for the Flint Hills Chapter of PDK to support the KFTA through these scholarships,” said Zeni Colorado, president of the chapter. “We hope this will help students experiencing financial challenges to attend the academy. These scholarships are important in helping to cultivate the next generation of educators.”

Students are allowed into the academy based upon their academic standing, involvement in school and community activities, and interest in exploring a career in teaching.

Funding for the academy is provided by the Kansas legislature and is coordinated by the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence at ESU. For more information about the academy, visit www.emporia.edu/jones/kfta/ or contact Terri Weast at 620-341-5372 or Bob Aman at 620-341-5822.